Ice Skating and Mailed Surprises.

I got the chance to share one of my favorite childhood pasttimes with my kids today: Ice Skating! I have so many fond recollections of ice-skating as a child...though we didn't get to do it as often as I would have liked, it was always a very special treat when we headed to the Civic ice rink or to Shannon's back-field skating pond. Today, we headed downtown to Rosa Parks circle...what a festive experience! An ice rink, with lots of smiling people, with Christmas music playing. Just like something out of an old-fashioned Christmas movie. It was fun to see the kids progress from being scared to trying it on their own.....with the help of these cool little "ice-walkers"! Both kids and Mommy had so much fun, that we will definitely be making this a frequent family outing....maybe next time, we'll be able to get Daddy on skates!

And then, after a quick stop for some hot cocoa and hot wings, we arrived home to a fun little package. A fun array of cherry-goodies straight from Cherry country up-north Michigan! My friend, Becky, sent such a festive arrangement including cherry hot cocoa (yum!), cherry beans, cherry oatmeal soap, cherry tea (can't wait to try this one!), a cherry candle...and the sweetest little cherry wooden spoon! Thanks, Becky, if you are reading this, for such a fun package that our whole family is sure to enjoy!

Now, my muscles are aching a bit from the "hunched over" position that I had to assume for over an hour while helping the kids skate, so this tired Mommy is watching a movie and then off to bed! Happy 60th post!!

Not the Day After, The Beginning.

The day after Christmas has sometimes been a very depressing one for me. Let down. The build up is over, and then the crash. But, today, I was challenged to think about December 26 in a new way....not "the day after" but "the beginning." I saw a photo today depicting the traditional manger scene with Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus, but the manger was bathed in the shadow of a huge cross. You see, Christmas morning was about more than a king being born. It was about the SAVIOR of the world being born. It was the beginning of 32 years of Jesus' life in human form that would culminate in the ultimate gift to humanity. The gift of our perfect Savior, nailed to a tree, dying, dead, only to raise to life again to conquer death three days later. I'm thinking that next year I need to think of a new tradition to celebrate in the days after Christmas, to help our kids see that Christmas is not a one-day celebration. It is truly only the beginning.

We had another nice low-key day around here. More playing, watching movies, a quick trip to Target (yea! they had a cute bell wreath on sale 1/2 off--one left, just for me!) and K-mart (return of duplicate gifts). I also picked up my new project desk and stools from Pier One so spent part of the day getting that set up--photos will be posted later. A bit of cleaning up. Made a batch of homemade guacamole for my family. Try this--it was very, very yummy and so fresh! Take 3 avacodos, slice, pit and scoop insides into a large Ziploc bag. Add some fresh garlic, a diced fresh tomato, the juice of one lime, a small chopped red onion, some chopped fresh cilantro, and salt to taste. Close the Ziploc and start squishing with your fingers....Fun! Blend until chucky consistency. Cut one corner and squeeze contents into a bowl. Serve with fresh tortilla chips and enjoy! Great for a football game like we are watching tonight.....Go CMU Chippewas! Get em, Daniel! A great day filled with more simple joys.

Happy Birthday.

Here are some glimpses of Christmas day at our house. We were blessed with a very peaceful and joyful day at home--all day with no traveling--which seemed oh, so beautiful. We did miss being with our families on Christmas day, but we so blessed to just be able to be at home and enjoy our children as they enjoyed their Christmas. Here is a partial list of some of the blessings our day included.....Mommy up before 6 am to finish wrapping (didn't get done last night because I fell asleep tucking Kennedy in); kids slept in until 8:30; excited eyes as the kids caught their first glimpse of the chock-full stockings and huge pile of gifts under the tree; opening stockings; my daughter's first {Disney} I-pod; my son's obsession with Nerf guns that shoot balls and foam rockets; my husband excited about his GPS and getting our family into geocaching; an I-home for my i-POD and a KONE vacuum for paperscraps in my scrap room; a huge mug of chai with a dash of peppermint cocoa creamer; Christmas strata for breakfast; a long hot bath; giving my kids a bath and cuddling with their soft, clean, sweet-smelling bodies; a long nap after my bath; watching Christmas movies as a family; a family game of BINGO played on a vintage-style Bingo board; a gloriously trashed living room; reading new Christmas books with my kids; having Kennedy read one of her new books to me!; sampling Christmas goodies from my stocking (especially the new chocolate-covered toffee with bits of candy cane.....yummy, a new favorite!); looking through photos from Christmases past; making a steak dinner with my husband, complete with T-bones, twice-baked potatoes, Christmas punch, green beans, and Jesus' birthday cake; telling the Christmas story while the kids place the nativity pieces; singing happy birthday to Jesus and blowing out his candles; watching my kids play with their new toys for hours; letting my mind return many times throughout the day to Bethlehem and the significance of the Jesus' birth; a warm new blanket; LOTS of garbage bags for the garbage man to pick up Wednesday; lots of photos; and just a beautiful day at home. Nothing better. Nothing. Merry Christmas from our home and Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Home-made glimpses of Christmas

I wanted to share some home-made glimpses of Christmas that I have enjoyed in the past couple of days. The kids and I made some white chocolate mix and jarred it in cute wintery jars for the neighbors. This year, we are calling it "Dreamin' of a White Christmas" mix, because although we are in Michigan, we have NO snow and really, really, REALLY would love a white Christmas. We tied each jar with festive red ribbon and our family Christmas card, and Kennedy delivered each one by herself to our neighbors. I was so proud of how she played a little elf, walked up to each door and rang the doorbell, and bade each family a Merry Christmas from our family. She is just growing up so quickly before my very eyes.

The second photo is one of a card that she made in kindergarten for us, coupled with a gift that she made. She even drew and colored the wrapping paper! These bits of construction paper and crayons just melt me to the core. I will surely miss it when my kids stop making me these types of gifts.....they are better than any store-bought gift or gift card that will grace our Christmas tree this year.

Well, I have one more gift card to buy and then I am officially done Christmas shopping for 2006. Good thing, because I am completely out of money! Tomorrow, we will be out of town for my husband's family's party and then back home tomorrow night--Christmas Eve!--so we can be truly Home for the Holidays! Kennedy just wants to know when our "real Christmas" is going to be, meaning when it is just our family. She likes getting together with her grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins, but she is really anticipating being at home on Christmas morning with her family. Until Christmas.......Merry eve of Christmas Eve!

It's about HOPE.

This is just a reminder that I need at this time of year, and maybe some of you out there need it, too. My brother-in-law DAN (OK, is this mention #5?) and my sister, Kendra, received this awesome sign for Christmas, and it is really what the Christmas season--and life on this earth--is all about. It's all about HOPE. Yes, Christmas is about joy, and peace, and love, and good tidings, and new life, and beauty, and noel, and......but the bottom line: Jesus was born to give a lost world HOPE. Hope that supercedes by far anything this world has to offer. Hope that surpasses any of our expectations. A hope that often is beyond what we could envision, that makes possible the things that this world and its experts deem impossible. A hope that we as humans really can't fully wrap our minds around, so we are called to just trust and hold on for the ride, because God promises that it will be an awesome, awesome ride when He is at the healm. So, yes, experience joy this Christmas. Yes, spread peace in any way that you can. Yes, sing and speak glad tidings and love your fellow man. But please, please, please be mindful that Christmas is first about HOPE. A hope that did not stay in the manger in Bethlehem. But a hope that is eternal and alive in you and in me. A hope that God manifests in our lives even today, in 2006, when we are so busy and challenged and often forgetful of Him. So, cling to that hope in these days in the new year. It is the truth of Christmas and every day the whole year through!

Favorite Things of '06.

So, I decided to start a new giving tradition this year, one that I will reserve for my dearest friends. My favorite Oprah show is her annual "Favorite Things" show, where she showers her guests with gifts of her favorite things from the previous year. While I obviously don't have anywhere near the same resources as Oprah--and while I certainly don't agree with everything she says and does--I do love her generosity and giving spirit. Following suit in my own little way, I decided to compile a little tin full of some of my very favorite finds from 2006. None of these things are extravagant in themselves, but each has somehow added a little sparkle and happiness to my life. I created a paper-and-ribbon covered tin with a large monogram to house the goodies, trying to make it one that could be used an displayed all year long. So, without further ado, my picks for A Few of My Favorite Things 2006 are..........1) "Notes" Journal--from Target, a simple, lined journal great for jotting down thoughts, quotes, and cute things kids say; 2) Keri Smith's "Living Out Loud"--A great and inspirational little book for encouraging creativity and innovation in everyday life; especially good at encouraging women to take time for themselves to nurture their creative spirits; 3) Days-of-the-Week Pad--discovered in the dollar section of Michael's--perfect for weekly meal planning or a week-at-a-glance and magnetized for refrigerator hanging; 4) Coin Purse--another great find from Target, came in so many fun colors (I thing I bought 4 of them for me!) but cost less than 5 bucks; the perfect size for your driver's license, credit card, a few dollars and coins, and maybe one of....... # 5) Cinnamint Lip Balm--Yum, yum, yummy for your lips! This Bath and Body Works tube is tingly with a warm hint of cinnamon; a perfect combination in my eyes....and on my lips.

This Favorite Things project was really fun to create and pull together. I am only sending two out this year, but I am hoping to broaden it next year to include some of my dearest in my circle of friends and family.

Santa Visit.

We made the annual trek to the local mall to visit Santa tonight. I had not planned to do it this year, but the kids asked to go. This is the first year where they really showed interest in seeing this big man dressed in red with a big white beard and a big belly. We have been pretty careful with how we portray Santa to them. We do not at all emphasize his role in Christmas, but we talk about him as a fun character that helps us to celebrate Jesus' birth. We talk about how even Santa needs to worship Jesus, and that Santa is not the center of our celebration. The kids were somewhat skeptical, but Hayden shared that he wanted a "cwab" and Kennedy all of a sudden decided that along with a barn for her model horses, she "really, really, REALLY" wants a skateboard. I guess I'll be making another trip to Target for that one! Kennedy was so excited that Santa said the he was going to talk to the elves about making her Christmas wishes come true! I really see no harm in this imaginative side of Christmas, as long as the focus remains on Jesus in the manger come to save the world.

Sweet Redness.

NEED I SAY MORE? SWEET SWEETIE IN RED.

For the Love of Red.

My favorite color is RED. I'm not sure that I really realized that until the past couple of years, but I just love red, all it stands for, how it makes me feel, and the reactions it evokes from people. One of the things that I love about this time of year is that red is out in full force everywhere you look. I remember there was this one boy in my high school class who told me, each time I wore red, "You look so good in red." Red, to be short and sweet, just makes me happy. Red can represent so many different emotions, from anger to love to joy. Red is a strong color, an assertive hue that won't be overlooked. Red stands for the holidays. Red is the color of blood that gives us life and breath and hope. Red was likewise the color of the blood that our Savior, Jesus Christ, shed when he willingly hung and died on the cross for us. To offer us eternal life and hope. I love the strength and the life of red. Some of my other favorite red things.....Crisp apples in the fall. Old weathered barn wood. Gerbrera daisies. My favorite red shoes. Bright red nail polish (my favorite is OPI's "I'm Really not a Waitress" red). My husband's red t-shirts. My son's red-striped PJ's, especially after his bath. Cold kid cheeks coming in from playing in the snow. A field of poppies. Holly berries (real or fake). Red beach buckets on the white Lake Michigan shore. Red-and-white polka dots on anything. My red leather purse. My red Franklin planner cover. Red ink (except when I am grading). Red walls in my entryway. Red stripes scarves on snowmen made with my kids. Red socks and slippers. Red rubber balls from the playgrounds of my childhood. Red hand-painted mugs. Red ribbon in my little girl's hair and in my scrapbooks. Red scrapbook embellishments of any kind. My husband in his red Chevy truck. Red hearts at Valentine's day. Fresh red raspberries with a dollop of whipped cream. Red ornaments against the fresh pine backdrop of our Christmas tree. Red marker of the "I love you" note that my 5-year-old daughter wrote. The red patches on our bed quilt. Red spashes of paint in my kids' paintings. Red is definitely one of the joys of this season for me.

Christmas Love.

OK, brother-in-law Dan, who keeps the number of times that he is mentioned on this blog....just couldn't resist posting this one....so sweet.....so cute.......a perfect touch of holiday. So, thanks for bearing with the crazy sisters who wanted a cheery holiday photo with their sweeties.....

Top 10 Weekend Accomplishments.

OK, this is one of those pre-holiday weekends that was chock-full and that just flew by, but I was able to accomplish many things and check them off my to-do list. I was also able to get some much-needed time with family and spend some fun time with kids.

1. Stood in a line at the mall for over one hour to buy mall gift cards.....and ended up having to pay a 2.00 service fee per card. As if the mall doesn't make enough money at this time of year anyway......I definitely need to write a complaint letter for this one.

2. Purchased cool stocking stuffers for my kids at Cracker Barrel. You have to love the old-fashioned goodies that they have......things like Chicklets gum, big Tootsie Rolls, Chuckles, gold coin chocolates, Pop Rocks, Whistle Pops....so many fond memories from my own childhood. Especially of trips down town to Fred and Betty's drug store with quarters in my pocket to pick some candy treats. So cool to be able to share these same simple pleasures with my own kiddos....though they are a bit more expensive than that quarter that used to go so far at the 5-and-dime candy store!

3. Got a pretty cute family photo taken for our Christmas card. My sister, Kendra, took this photo, and I love its balance of fun and festivity. The framed look turned out really nice and I can't wait to get started (yes, STARTED!) on my cards tomorrow. Thanks, Kendie, for such an awesome photo.....this was a lot easier than trying to get a decent photo with the self-timer and tri-pod.

4. Directed the church children's Christmas program....pretty much organized chaos, but the kids were so adorable and were worshipping Jesus in their own way and with their own voice....what Christmas is all about. I am especially proud of my little girl who spoke her 2 lines loudly and clearly!

5. Hosted my family Christmas party at our home.....a great day with lots of appetizers (and ham for my Hubby!)....generous gifts......laughter.......a Nerf missile gun that ended up being the hit of my little boy's Christmas......and a game of UNO ATTACK that we NEVER thought would end. A nice celebration with my family.

6. Ordered my new project desk from Pier One for my scraproom. I have been saving for this desk for nearly 6 months, and I finally had enough to order it along with two stools. I love the spacious workspace and the shelves on each end......I'll be sure to post photos once it finds its way to my room.

7. Made Rachael Ray's 5-minute fudge....yes, it took five minutes, but it took nearly 30 minutes to try to chip it out of the pan (even though I did spray the pan prior to chilling). One batch down the drain (literally!) so we'll try again this week.

8. Took my kids to see "Happy Feet".....such a cute movie with a deeper message about environmental stewardship and accepting yourself for your individuality and letting your own unique light shine.

9. Updated my IPOD with Christmas songs....especially songs from the December album by George Winston. I love the peace of Winston's piano interpretations......conjures up images of winter scenes such as festive holiday celebrations, the peaceful manger scene, and a hauntingly cold winter night. Other favorites include Oh, Holy Night, Not that Far from Bethlehem, Silent Night, Away in a Manger, and other Christmas classics. I plan to listen to these tunes as I go through the week with the final preparations leading up to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

10. Made post #50 on Half-Baked and Firefly Free....WOW! This has become such an important expressive tool in my life, one that I look forward to each and every day. I am definitely planning on 50 more and beyond......

Tones and Tunes of the Season.

Without a doubt, music is a major part of both my holiday memories and our current family Christmas traditions. Yes, there are the fun songs that we have sung since childhood and that our own kids now sing with passion.....Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Jingle Bells, We Wish you a Merry Christmas, I Saw Mama Kissing Santa Claus......so fun and festive. But even more central to our celebrations are the sacred and holy songs of the season that help us to keep our focus on Jesus during the holidays. My very favorite Christmas song is "Oh, Holy Night"....the stars were brightly shining, it is the night of our dear Savior's birth. I love memories of touring our neighborhood, caroling with these favorites and just connection via song....and of course countless school concerts and church hymn-sings. One of my favorite things to do at Christmas time is to go to church, sit in a darkened sanctuary lit only by white lights or candles, and sing Christmas songs.

I took Kennedy to her first "real" concert last night....the Winter Wonderland Tour with Point of Grace and Scott Krippayne. What a great musical treat! Point of Grace has the most awesome harmony that I have every heard.....shivers up and down my spine and a pure delight for the ears and the soul. We went with a group of moms and daughters from church, and we had a really nice time. Without a doubt, my favorite song that Point of Grace sings is "Not that Far from Bethlehem," a song that talks about the fact that although Jesus' birth was many, many years ago, the truth and hope of Christmas is right here and right now in our lives. I try to carry the truth of this song with me through the season, to help me keep my eyes firmly on Jesus. They also had some of their kids up on stage with homemade nativity costumes on singing "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" at pretty much the top of their lungs.....so, so precious.

This morning, we had another musical treat in my daughter's kindergarten holiday concert....what fun to see them all dressed up singing the fun song of the season. They did a rendition of "Silent Night"--complete with sign language--that was so precious. Kennedy is SO EXPRESSIVE when she sings, it just made me smile (my mouth and my heart!). They also did a very cute rendition of "Must be Santa." I love that Kennedy loves music and sees it as a form of expressing herself and her emotions.....they were singing a song about a single little lonely Christmas tree in the woods, and her little face was so, so sad.....and then the twinkle in her eye when talking about Santa's arrival......just so dramatic! I look forward to helping her to develop her musical talents and seeing where she will go in this area. Love, love, love, LOVE the sounds and songs of the Christmas season, especially when they are sung by my children.

....still grading......

.......and grading and grading and grading and grading and grading.....if I see one more run-on sentence or split infinitive or the word "thing" in a paper, I am going to literally need my own services (therapy, that is!!). Hopefully, by tomorrow, I will finished with grading so that I can blog about something besides the huge stack of grading that I still have to do!!

Up to my Eyeballs in Grading....

......so not much time to blog tonight. More tomorrow after I get through these stacks of portfolios and statistics exams. Why, oh why, do I assign so many lengthy papers and projects?? For now, just a little December photo from our home to yours.

Nativity.

If I had to choose one favorite activity that symbolizes what I want my family to remember about the Christmas season, it is setting up our nativity scenes for the season. I just love getting out the pieces, looking carefully at each one, and reminding the kids of the role that each person and animal had in the first Christmas night in Bethlehem. The kids really love and look forward to getting the nativities out each year......they beg and beg to get them out! Of course, they always want to know right away where the Baby Jesus is, so it always makes for a teachable moment for redirecting their attention back to where it needs to be this season. There is so much to pull their little minds away from Jesus at Christmas, that I want these scenes to be a constant reminder about what Christmas means for our family. The kids have a Little People nativity set that I bought on Kennedy's first Christmas, and they love enacting Jesus' birth with these fun and colorful little people. When I first discovered this set, I bought a set for several friends and I just think it is an awesome way to bring Jesus' birth alive for little ones. They would love to play with it the whole year through, but I have decided to pack it away and bring it out only in December, to highlight the significance of the event and hopefully raise the anticipation factor. The second set is my cherished nativity that my sister started for me the Christmas after Matt and I were married. It is sort of a rustic, earthy set, and I just love it. It is one of my most cherished Earthly possessions, and I love that it communicates that Jesus' birth was not one typically characteristic of a King; it was simple, Earthy, and really went unnoticed to much of the world. But, oh, how significant that event is to the history of the world and to each and every person to ever live and breathe. We have a third nativity, also, one that is also very precious to me. It is one that a very special couple, the Racignols, gave us for our wedding. It was such a creative gift because for the first couple of years of our marriage, new pieces would randomly appear.....the gift that kept on giving! This year, I am going to wait until Christmas Eve to set this one us as a way to retell the Christmas story. This set has many, many pieces so it is a fun and meaningful way to add the details of the Christmas story. This year, I ordered a new nativity--a hand-carved teak wood set--designed especially for kids to play with. I saw it in a Sensational Beginnings catalog last year and just fell in love with it, so when I saw it again this year, I just had to have it for our family. I see it as an investment in the spiritual growth and development of my children, so the few dollars it cost was well worth helping them to embrace the true and lasting joy of Christmas.

One Year Ago Tonight....

my sister married her soul mate. What a gorgeous day.....two people very much in love, surrounded by the most important people in their lives. The perfect settings of a little country church in northern Michigan followed by a beautiful reception in the quaint snow-blanketed town of Traverse City. So many fond memories. How beautiful Kendra looked. How Dan looked at Kendra. My sweet, adorable little girl dressed in green with bright Christmas-red patent leather shoes. Both of my sweet kids dancing the night away with more energy than I could imagine. So a happy, happy anniversary to Kendra and Dan as they are celebrating their first year of marriage.....may God richly bless you with many, many, many more in this sometimes mysterious but always amazing and fulfilling marriage journey. We love you both very much.

















Well, I am going to have to set my holiday preparations aside for a few days to finish my grading....Yuck. My least favorite part of my job. I had a house-full of students today for a little Christmas get-together, and it was a really fun time. We packed up a load of gifts to share with a family in need, and it was neat to see all these students--who don't have a lot of extra money--be so generous. The true meaning of the season. Giving. Serving. Spreading joy. Working together to impact lives for Jesus. Such a cool, meaningful thing. I'm so thankful that my kids got to be a part of this and see these "big kids" living out life for Jesus.

All is Calm, All is Bright.

This is the scene at our house tonight as I arrived home from getting groceries. I am preparing to host 30+ of my university students on Sunday for a little Christmas get-together, so I have been busy getting ready, choosing recipes, buying groceries, decorating, etc. And it was so nice to come home to this Christmas Card-esque scene. The white lights twinkling in the front window, casting a faint light on the snow-mounds of the front yard. Pine garland draped on our front porch. This picture just reminds me that no matter how busy life gets, no matter how bitter cold it is outside in the world, it is always warm, cozy and just right at home. Cozy. And. Just. Right. Ahhhhhh, settling in for a long winter's nap.

Happy B-Day Hazy. Christmas Recipe.

December 7 brings around another birthday for my little sister, Haley Jo. Happy Birthday, Hazy! I hope that you have a very happy birthday and that you get lots of pampering and special treats. We hope that you are enjoying the photo printer and that you will get many, many years of use out of it.

I am really into Christmas movies these days.....I have pretty much watched one every day for the past week, and I'm loving it. What a great way to get into the groove of the holidays. Tonight, on Lifetime, I found a movie called "The Recipe for the Perfect Christmas" and it got me thinking about what goes in to my idea of the perfect Christmas. So here, in no particular order, are some of the factors that help to make the season bright for our family. Gently falling snow. Our nativity scene. Readings of the Christmas story from Luke 2. Our blue and red-gingham stockings ready to be filled. White twinkle lights on a fragrant pine tree. Our family ornament collection. Choosing a new ornament to add to the collection. Christmas Eve appetizers. New red pajamas. Getting out the Christmas CDs, especially Point of Grace. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty and Snowman, and The Polar Express. Children's Christmas program at Church. Stirring hot cocoa with candy canes. Furry Santa hats. My snowman collection. Stockings hung by the fireplace. Our quilted tree skirt. Decorating Christmas cut-out cookies with friends. Building snowmen. Opening the doors of the advent house, night by night. Gingerbread lattes, skinny decaf with whip. Lifetime Christmas movies. Fun Christmas stamps. Holiday craft projects. Writing the annual Christmas letter. Making and sending hand-made cards. Letters and cards from family and friends. Adding to the family Christmas scrapbook. Planning Jesus' birthday party. Taking lots and lots and lots of photos. Mailing Christmas packages to friends across the miles. Red sweaters with colorful stripes scarves. My kids' Christmas art. Jingle bells. Pine wreaths with red bows. Writing wish lists. Looking through catalogs and ads. Buying items for charity giving. Christmas-scented candles. Children's Christmas books like The Velveteen Rabbit and The Mitten. The Christmas welcome mat. Short Christmas stories. Brown packing paper with colorful ribbon. Favorite carols like "O, Holy Night" and "Silent Night" and "Joy to the World." Christmas punch. And, most importantly, doing whatever we can to keep Jesus at the center of Christmas Day and every day.

Snowman Joy!

Snowmen have always been part of the holidays in our family. It is fun to look back at five winters' worth of photos to see the unique and fun snowmen who have been part of our family. The pictures above show the snow family that we made last winter, including a mommy, daddy, two kids, snow bunny, and snow mouse. I recall so clearly how excited Kennedy was to add the snow-animals to the family. And how wide-eyed Hayden was when he reached out to touch the snow-dad's head, which proceeded to fall right off! The other photo is from today, when the kids and I made this adorable snowgirl. Kennedy reminded me that this is not a snow-man but rather a snow-girl, because she is wearing pink gloves and hat. There is just something about a snowman that is such pure fun....so reminiscent of childhood winters past, so fun to see this little snow figure adorn our front lawn for weeks to come. Pure white adorned with a bright orange carrot nose, brightly striped scarf, pink hat and mittens and coal-black stones for a mouth and buttons. I had another idea for this year's Christmas card, but I'm thinking that I might want to use this series of photos to do something fun.....I'll be sure to scan and post the card when I'm done. Hopefully, that will be Friday's job.

Warms the Body and Soul

This has become somewhat of an icon of the Christmas season in my life. No so much because I drink a lot of these, but because I am a professor at a university where a majority of students and faculty can be seen carrying various sizes of these around. When you see these red-and-green paper cups start to appear, you know the season has arrived. Everyone seems to have their favorites. Eggnog latte, tall, whip. Non-fat mocha, no whip. Skinny vanilla spice chai latte. Tonight, the desire to have one of these colorful cups of creamy warm liquid overtook me, so I ran through the Starbucks drive-through on the way home. My choice was a nonfat decaf. Gingerbread latte with whip. Just sounded like a cup of Christmas to me. It's funny; I like the IDEA of these special coffees, but I usually end up enjoying a first few creamy sips before letting the rest of it get cold and ultimately throwing it away. Let's see....at over $3.00 a pop, that is the equivalent of a dollar a sip. Good thing that I only get 1 or 2 per season. I'll stick to my vanilla spice chai, and I like my at-home version much better than the too-spicy version at Starbucks.

I just discovered the movie "Miracle on 34th Street" that is just now starting on TV. While I have seen pieces and parts of this movie many times, I can honestly say that I don't think I have ever watched it beginning to end in its entirety in one sitting. Maybe I'll watch it tonight. I love black-and-white photos, because of the emphasis on the face, skin and eyes, but I'm not sure that I have the same appreciation for black-and-white movies. I'll give it a chance....maybe it's an acquired taste.

I had an interesting discussion with my students today surroudning blogs and whether they are a positive or negative thing. I think that my students were seriously though pleasantly shocked that I have a blog. Maybe I'll share this site with them on Thursday.

Well, I broke down and bought that Fisher Price camera from E-Bay. Interesting that you cannot find one anywhere in a store, but there are over 1,000 of them for sale on E-Bay. Some of these people must make a full-time job out of projecting the "hot item" of the season and buying them out to sell on E-Bay. Nevertheless, thanks to "hipChicagomom", my son will be getting the camera with case for Christmas. And let's just say that I will be paying for several manicures for hipChicagomom! It's amazing to me that with one click of a button, I could find something that I have driven to several stores and searched high and low around several towns for. The advantages of the technology age. This is the first Christmas gift that I have ever purchased from E-Bay so, assuming that I receive the merchandise and all goes well, maybe this will be a part of future holidays. Now, back to my movie and cold Gingerbread latte........

Snowy Monday and 40th Post.

I'm 40. No, not that kind of fourty. I still have a long, long time (OK, 6 years) to go until I reach that milestone age-wise. But this is post #40 on Half-Baked and Firefly Free. And no, half-baked does not refer to one's cognitive state while partaking of illegal substances, as my brother-in-law suggsted (Here's a plug, Dan!). Refer back to previous posts to read about the reasons behind the name for my site. Anyway, I have really, really enjoyed making these blog entries a part of my daily routine. It is something that I do for me. To help me express and stay in touch with my thoughts, opinions, and musings. You see, once you have kids, it is easy to lose yourself. To lose touch with you as a woman. To just mindlessly go through daily life taking care of others without being intentional, reflective and quiet within your own soul. So this blog is really the beginning of a journey back to myself. In 2007, I am launching a "return to me" campaign in my life. More on that as the new year approaches, but I am eagerly anticipating getting started.

Here is a photo on the status of the paper chain that Kennedy, Hayden and I have been working on. I love how it is turning out.....so colorful and down-home. I actually worked on it by myself for over an hour this morning after Kennedy got on the bus and while I was watching Dr. Phil and the snow falling outside in the field. A nice quiet early morning.

Tonight, we watched the first classic holiday special on TV.....Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Matt and I both reminisced a bit about watching this as we were growing up. On those nights, we were always allowed to stay up an extra half-hour as it always seemed that they aired from 8-8:30. My favorite part of Rudolph is when Rudolph and Santa come back to the Isle of Misfit Toys to make sure that the toys find homes; I always liked these misfits, and I love that Rudolph and his new friends were learning to accept, embrace and celebrate their uniqueness and differences. Kind of a life lesson......anyway, my kids weren't thinking that philosophically about Rudolph, just enjoying and singing along! Hayden watches Rudolph and Frosty all year-round, as well as The Polar Express......he is my kid who always has Christmas in his heart....though there was a bit of the Grinch mixed in there yesterday! I love that these holiday classics were a part of the childhood holiday memories of both of our families, and that we can pass this simple family joy onto our own children.

The remaining photo is what I had to climb over to get into my bed tonight. This tower of blocks built right in the middle of my bedroom floor. We have tried the rule of "No toys in Mommy and Daddy's room" but somehow, toys always seem to congregate here. My kids just love being in our room, so the toys are soon to follow. This picture reminds me to embrace these little remnants of these awesome little people. All too soon, these kids will be trading in their toys for more mature interests, and I want to celebrate their play, creativity, and childhood interests for as long as possible. So for now, I'm leaving the tower there. I may even add a block or two to the tower myself. It is a reminder to let my kids play and be kids and not to get ruffled over the little stuff. For as a wise philosopher once mused, maybe the stuff that seems like little annoyances are really the true stuff of life after all.

A Sunday at Home and Around the World.

Well, today was a Sunday that was MUCH more stressful than I ever like Sundays to be. My son just seemed to be in fine form behaviorally.....he pretty much refused to listen to anything that I said, required several time outs, multiple warnings, and even a spanking. He was just downright frustrating today and seemed to be out to push, pull, grate on, and rip out my every last nerve ending. I really needed a little Sunday afternoon nap after dealing with him for the first part of the day, but we had our work Christmas party at the local gardens, so we headed off for an afternoon Christmas excursion. Hayden fell asleep immediately in the car, so I think that part of his problem was being over-tired. Anyway, the time at the Christmas gardens was pretty enjoyable for each of us. They have an awesome display of Christmas trees from around the world. Trees from places like Sweden, Japan, Australia, Belize, Peru, Austria, England and Scandinavia. Kennedy's favorite was the tree from Belize, decorated with colors feathers and colorful red scarlet macaws and brightly-painted ornaments. I just liked the unique features of each one, though my favorite was probably the one from Peru, which was adorned in handpainted nativity ornaments. It was just wonderful to witness that although each country decorates in a different fashion, so many pull together to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The gardens also had an awesome train that wound through the displays, so Hayden was at least occupied during that time we were by the train. Upon leaving, he decided to crawl up on a bank and plop himself in a huge pile of snow, refusing to come down. So, basically, I ended up climbing through the snow and manually picking him up and carrying him back to the vehicle. Amazing how three-year-old boys can be simultaneously so adorable but so ultimately frustrating and testing. Yes, God, this is only a test......I think that we will make the Gardens an annual visit for years to come, as it was a nice holiday afternoon.

Tonight, the kids and I started working on a paperchain to hang on one of our trees. I basically took strips of double-sided paper (lots from KI Memories and Paper Boutique) and started chaining them. Kennedy really got into it and was so disappointed when it was time for bed; however, I assured her that we could work on it again tomorrow. We are also planning to have every guest who comes to our home in December add a chain, including their name labeled on their link. This will hopefully become something that we can pull out year after year.....and it is much cheaper than buying garland!

I am in search of a Fisher Price kids' camera for my son for Christmas. I saw a whole row of them on the shelf at our local Target a week before Thanksgiving, so I thought that I would just wait a bit. WRONG DECISION! Now all of the stores are completely out of them, and they are going on E-bay for 90.00 or more (the shelf price was right around 50.00). So, now I have to decide whether I'm going to try to bid on one or just pay the higher price.....or just find a different type of gift. Hayden loves taking photos and is always trying to take some with my nice Canon Digital Rebel, so I would really like to get it for them. Reminds me of the year my parents searched high and low for Cabbage Patch dolls.....and they found them. Oh well, I still have a few weeks left to see what I can do to make this happen for my little guy.

First Saturday of December 06.

Saturdays with family are one of my favorite things, and today was a great day together. I started the day before 8 am, going shopping with a good friend and then treating myself to a nice Christmas shopping lunch at one of my favorite restaurants, Cracker Barrel. There is just something about the atmosphere at that place during the Christmas season that brings my heart home. It just reminds me of a down-home, simple approach to the holidays, one that we so often forget it today's busy culture. After I enjoyed my lunch, I came home and we did some picking up around the house. Kennedy and I sorted through some of my old scrapbook stickers and supplies, and she was so thrilled to acquire a huge stack of "new supplies" for her stash. It is so fun that things that I view as "scrapbook rejects" make her totally and entirely overjoyed.

The highlight of the day was our small town Christmas parade. This is our first year of attending, so I would call this a new holiday tradition for our family. OK, to put this parade in the proper perspective, think a bunch of freezing people standing beside the road to watch five parade entries and have a bunch of broken candy canes thrown at them. Seriously, the kids really enjoyed the parade but were disappointed that it wasn't longer. Hayden was very excited to see Santa on the float and to bring a candy cane home to Daddy (Daddy stayed home to clean the living room....what a husband!). It just reminded me of the simple joys that children so purely experience. Things that adults may view as "hokey" or not worth the time, kids can just be so content and excited with. Hmmmm.....along with Kennedy's joy over the old stickers that I gave her, I sense a theme for the day developing. Stop and take a look at life through the kids' eyes. Try to feel the joy that they feel for the simple things.

Tonight, we opened the second door of the nativity house. Tonight's ornament was one of the wisemen, and Hayden nestled it so carefully in his hand as he walked to the tree and hung it. I picked up an adorable 4-foot tree at Hobby Lobby today (Love, love, LOVE that store!), and I plan to let the kids totally decorate that over the next week. We are going to make some paper chain with some colorful 2-sided scrapbook cardstock, and make some fun ornaments by hand. My sister, Haley, is staying over tonight as she is in town Christmas shopping, so tonight, we took her out to eat at "The Chicken Restaurant." This is a restaurant--actually a remodeled historic hotel in our town--where on Saturdays, all you can order is chicken. Chicken, cole slaw and fries. Can I have a baked potato instead? NO! How about a tossed salad instead of cole slaw? NO! The only choice you get is whether you want white meat, dark meat, or half and half. Makes ordering really quick and uncomplicted! This is especially fitting for my husband, who always complain that I spend too much time looking at the menu and deciding when we go out to eat. Ah, you have to love quirky things about small-town America. Here's to enjoying a chicken dinner with family on the first Saturday in December!

On the First Day of Christmas......

For December, I thought that I would try to share a tradition, holiday project, etc. each day as I am inspired. First up is this gorgeous and fun Advent house that we got from Pottery Barn last December. The kids look so forward to opening the tiny doors, which are filled with treasures such as gold coin chocolates, money, and small trinkets. Hayden still has a hard time stopping with opening one per day--he would MUCH rather open them all in one sitting--but it has still become an anticipated part of each day. This year, I found an adorable set of tiny ornaments, each of which is a figure from the nativity--shepherds, sheep, a cow, wiseman, Jospeh, Mary and Baby Jesus. So, I have scattered these through some of the little doors and am going to let the kids hang the ornaments on a special tiny tree as they find them. Hopefully part of a long time tradition....I bought two boxes of the ornaments, as it will be a small miracle if we make it through to the new year without losing any! I'm sure those of you with preschoolers know exactly what I mean!

SNOW DAY!!

There are few childhood joys that are as vivid to me as that of awakening to find the house surrounded in snow mounds. I would run downstairs just hoping....praying....if only......waiting anxiously to see whether our school was listed...would it be there.....I can hardly stand it.........YES!.......NO SCHOOL!!........A SNOW DAY!!!!! The day lay ahead of us in unscheduled beauty; it usually involved going back to bed for an hour or two, followed by lots of time playing in the snow, resting, playing with friends, and just loving life. A planned day off school just wasn't the same....the sheer spontaneity of it....the realization that school was planned but nature intervened to give us this wonderful little snow-covered miracle. Today, in our area of the country, we received the beautiful gift of a snow day. This was extra special, because this was my daughter's very first snow day (she is in kindergarten)! Of course, the minute the kids woke up, looked out the window, and saw the snow, they wanted to go outside and NOW. But, I was able to convince them to wait and have breakfast and relax a bit.....at about 10 am, I bundled them all up and out they went....the amazing joy on their faces! They ran out and, in a matter of just a few minutes, made snow angels, made tracks all around the yard, ate their share of snow, and had a snowball fight! There is not much better gift to a parent than observing their kids just being kids, having fun together, and enjoying God's awesome creation. Thanks God....and the school administrators.....for this awesome gift of a snowday on the first day of December.

So, now that the snow is flying, I am feeling a bit more festive, but I also had a few brief though intense moments of panic this morning as I realized just how much I have to accomplish in the next three weeks. Lead the children's program at church; write our annual family Christmas letter; make and send Christmas cards; make candy gift jars for the neighbors; buy, wrap and tag all gifts; write, administer, and grade four sets of final exams at the university; fill my children's nativity house (first one is opened tonight!); finish the scrapbooks for my parents and siblings; decorate the house; decorate the tree; hang curtains; host the annual cookie-making afternoon for my kids' friends; plan and host my annual student Christmas party; host my parents and siblings for Christmas; and somehow try to maintain emphasis on the real reason for the season and on maintaining holiday joy. OK, that was actually quite therapeutic. I feel better, much better. Tonight, I think I'll start by designing the Christmas card and writing the letter.....one day at a time.

Yesterday was the final day of November and, due to the big ice storm, I was unable to get on my blog to write my final note of thanks. But, there are no rules in blogging, so I am going to go ahead and write the note today, the first day of December. Today's letter fits into the "last but not least" and the "save the best for last" category. I have thanked my children, my parents, friends, siblings, teachers, and many others in my life; however, in the past 6 years of my life, without a doubt, the person that has influenced me the most is my husband, Matthew. I am thankful for so many things about Matt. For his intensity. For the fact that he can't help but cry during a touching movie. For all the times that he helps me get the laundry done. For playing with our kids, even though he may be tired from a long day at work. Because when I look at Hayden, I see so much of Matt. For his commitment to me and our family. For his desire to learn and grow in his relationship with Jesus. For all of his silly faces, funny stories from his childhood, and quirky way of saying and doing things. I am thankful that even though we face challenges and frustrations and days where we may not feel very fondly toward each other, I know that we are in this together for the long run. We are a work in progress, and that is a good thing. Matt is my husband, my best friend, my partner in raising our gorgeous children, and just a good-hearted man. Honey, thanks for all that you bring to my life. Thanks for always wanting to do better and for all that you do for our family. On this last day of November (OK, first of December), I just want you to know that I honor you and I would marry you all over again. Thank you for giving me your heart.

70 Degrees and Hanging Wreaths.

First, a big HAPPY 35th to my good friend, Becky, up in northern Michigan. I hope you have a great day and remember......35 is still a very long, long, LONG way from 40! I hope you got lots of pampering, surprises and love today. Your gift is still sitting on my table waiting to be taken to the post office; hopefully tomorrow!! You know what it is, anyway, so get those new photos ready! Consequently, I just realized that this is also my 35th posting on this blog......if I was a gambling woman, which I'm not, I might have to go and play those numbers! Here's to another 35 years and another 35 posts!

I like a nice, mild-weather day as much as the next woman, but there is something that is just WRONG, WRONG, WRONG about hanging wreaths and pine garland when it is 70 degrees outside. In fact, we no more than finished decorating our front porch before it starting thundering and ended up developing into a huge, loud thunderstorm. Nevertheless, despite the unseasonably warm temperatures, the kids and I enjoyed getting the outside of our home ready for the season. Last year, given that we had only been in our house for two months, we didn't even hang our outdoor decorations. I really, really missed coming home to a house that reflected the holiday cheer. So this year, I look forward to snow flying and coming home to a "Burl and Ives" scene. After dinner tonight, we went for a walk and had to dodge the HUGE earthworms that came out on the sidewalks after the rain.....I would think it was May if I didn't know better!

Two more days of letters of thanks. I have really enjoyed the reflection and soul-inventorying that has gone into these letters. Even though I have not been very good at sending them daily as I had originally planned, I am still glad that these feelings are documented. I still plan to get them written and sent in early December, as I again think it very important not just to think those thank-yous but to say the words to those who have meant so much. Today's letter goes out to my parents who have shaped me and influenced me in so many ways. I know that I was a very strong personality to raise, and I know that we didn't always see eye to eye, but I appreciate so much about how you raised me. How you allowed me to pursue my interests, even though they may not have been your own. How you allowed me to make mistakes and to feel the consequences of those mistakes. For all the umpteen-hundreds of ball games you sat through, cheered me on in, and brought picnics for. For encouraging me in my educational pursuits. For all the cards and care packages as I was away at college and throughout graduate school.....they may have not seemed significant when you sent them, but they meant the world to me as they kept me connected to my roots. For moving me and my belonging to Grand Rapids and to Ann Arbor and to McBain and to Lansing and to Mason and back to McBain and back to Grand Rapids and to Cadillac and to Spring Lake and to........WHEW! Now that I have two beautiful children of my own, I am gaining a better understanding of what it means to nurture, and grow, and blossom a unique human being.....holding tight, but not too tight.......helping them to discover their own unique interests and talents........feeling their pain and triumphs possibly even deeper than they do.......pouring yourself into them. Most importantly, I am so thankful for the faith heritage that you instilled in me. For emphasizing a life lived for Jesus. And now I am passing that legacy down to my own children and am so proud to see them embracing Jesus. Thank you for just being you and for loving each other and for all those times where you hugged and kissed each other in front of us kids, while we all groaned and begged for you to stop. In reality, we loved it. We loved seeing you have affection for each other. And that is so important to a child as they develop an understanding of love, relationship, marriage and commitment. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for believing in me, loving me, and giving me such a critical foundation to pursue God's calling in my own life as a woman, mother, professional, and artist. I love you both very much. I just wanted you to know.

Laughs at Wal-Mart.

Just have to share a funny little story that happened yesterday when I was with my kids in Wal-Mart. We were busy shopping for this and that and, of course, the store was absolutely crazy-busy with people who forget that we still have a full month until Christmas. Anyway, to avoid a particularly large crowd of people, I cut through the ladies' undergarment section. As we made our way with my 3-year-old son in the cart and my 5-year-old daughter following behind, my son yells in a very, VERY loud voice: LOOK, MOMMY! THERE'S LOTS OF BIG BOOBS! Of course, he was referring to all the bras hanging on the racks. I heard several people chuckling and one particular lady who was pretty much guffawing at the top of her lungs! Oh, from the mouth of babes! I love this kid.